One of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies NBCUniversal recently completed the refurbishment of its London Central St Giles offices. Alcons cinema specific C-series loudspeakers were chosen as an integral part in the creation of two state-of-the-art preview theatres for executive and private screenings.
The two preview rooms were to be created from space primarily designed to house offices. This posed issues for the designers who wanted a heavy, acoustically-isolated, floating preview theatre of 64 seats and one with 15 seats. Eventually, a double-height area with a mezzanine behind the main receptionwas found to te the most suitable location.
Cinema optics consultant Laurence Claydon engaged Suffolk-based acoustic consultancy company White Mark to assist with the project.
The larger room has a CR4 3-way screen system, comprising two 15in LF, four 6.5in MF and three 4in pro-ribbon HF. These are tri-amplified by two 2kW ALC2, with two 4kW ALC4 amplified loudspeaker controllers featuring SDP processing. The room also features the all-new CRS8 2-way 8in vented LF + 4in pro-ribbon HF surrounds, with identical screen/surround components for perfect voice matching, with two CB362 low-tuned double 18in woofers providing sub bass.
The smaller room, meanwhile, incorporates a CR1 screen system, 3-way passive system comprising one 12in LF, 1x 6.5in MF, a 4in pro-ribbon HF, with only 18cm / 7-in. system depth, 2-way CCS8 surrounds and a BF181i as subwoofer. All elements are powered and controlled by an ALC2 amplified loudspeaker controller.
Both screening rooms offer an optimum viewing and listening environment, with the stadium seating raked sufficiently to ensure there is never a patron in the row in front obscuring the view.
“The internal acoustic design was also excellent,” commented Claydon. “White Mark has done an amazing job balancing excellent bass absorption with diffusion in both rooms. In combination with the Alcons C-Series, we required very minimal EQ to tune the system.”
Complementing this is an acoustically transparent woven screen from Screen Research. Claydon added: “These not only provide best audio quality, but also have incredibly even reflective properties at any viewing angle, and are completely free from any Moiré patterning we would see on perforated screens when projecting digitally.”
Finally, projection is provided by a 4K Christie CP4220 in the large theatre, and 2K Christie CP2210 in the smaller room. Both rooms are ready for High-Framerate 3D, featuring Dolby and Doremi Integrated Media Blocks. A Dolby CP750 cinema sound processor is provided for professional sources, and an Arcam AV888 for domestic sources. Future sound formats, such as Dolby Atmos, will also be easy to accommodate at a later stage.
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